River shifts for a streamlined hospital
By Christian Pruszinsky
EH Austrian Correspondent
Austria - A new hospital is rarely a groundbreaking enterprise for urban planners and engineers. Recently, however, a whole river had to be re-routed to make way for a new medical centre at Klagenfurt, capital of Bundesland Carinthia.
2003 Red Cross parking
Feschnigstrasse Bridge
Designed by Austrian architect Dietmar Feichtinger, the é316 million project promises not only to be progressive in terms of earthworks, but also for hospital technology, quality and service. Feichtinger has a proven track record of tailor-made structural solutions: the new access to the Mont Saint Michel, France, and a new bridge over the Seine in front of the National Library, Paris, were conceived on his drawing-board.
For the Klagenfurt hospital, Feichtinger has designed a flat ensemble that will not dwarf surrounding buildings. Glass will make this, Austria’s second-largest hospital, open, airy and transparent, and more like a hotel than the traditional medical institution. Lots of green, small units and easy orientation also will help make patients more at home.
2004 Parking, Western bridge Island, Northern bridge
Copenhagen’s Rijk Hospital is a role model for the new approach to hospital building and management, and its consultants were involved in the development of the Klagenfurt project.
In 2010, after all departments and wards have moved in to their new quarters, the vacated site will be returned to the city of Klagenfurt, which has plans for its future use.
This article was published on 09/01/2004